Outdoor faucet leaking

How an outdoor faucet works

An outdoor faucet, also called a spigot, hose bib or sillcock, works like a simple compression valve. Turning the handle drives a stem with a rubber washer on the end down onto a metal seat to stop the water. Around the stem, a packing nut squeezes packing material to keep water from escaping past the handle. Many have a vacuum breaker on top that keeps hose water from being pulled back into your pipes.

A frost-free sillcock has a long stem, often 6 to 12 inches or more, so the actual valve sits inside the heated part of the house. Water drains out of the long tube when you shut it off, but only if no hose is attached. If a hose is left on over a freeze, the trapped water can split the tube inside the wall, and you'll only see the leak indoors when the faucet is turned on.

Why outdoor faucets leak

Let's fix it

1. Figure out where it leaksTurn the faucet on and off and watch. A drip from the spout with the handle closed means the washer or seat. Water around the handle or stem while it's running means the packing. Water spitting from the cap or top of a vacuum breaker means that part has failed. If the outside looks dry, check for a leak inside the house next.
   Done

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2. Check inside for a cracked frost-free faucetGo to the basement, crawl space or the wall behind the faucet with a flashlight while someone runs the outdoor faucet. Water dripping or spraying inside, or water stained drywall or framing near the pipe, usually means a frost-free sillcock cracked from freezing, often with a hose left attached. Turn off its shutoff valve right away; a cracked frost-free tube can't be patched, so the faucet has to be replaced.
   Done

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3. Shut off the waterFind the indoor shutoff valve for the outdoor faucet, usually on the pipe just inside the wall, and close it. If there isn't one, shut off the main water valve. Open the outdoor faucet to drain the line and confirm the water is off.
   Done

   Something went wrong?

   • You can't find a shutoff for the outdoor faucet Turn off the main water to the house.

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4. Tighten the packing nutFor a leak around the handle, find the packing nut just under the handle. Tighten it about a quarter turn clockwise with a wrench while holding the faucet body steady with a second wrench, then turn the water back on and test. If it still leaks or the handle gets hard to turn, the packing needs replacing.
   Done

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5. Replace the packingWith the water off, remove the handle screw and handle, then unscrew the packing nut. Pull out the old packing washer or packing string, and fit a new packing washer or wrap new packing string clockwise around the stem a couple of times. Reinstall the nut snug but not overtight and put the handle back on.
   Done

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6. Replace the washerFor a drip from the spout, unscrew the packing nut or bonnet and turn the stem counterclockwise to back it out; on a frost-free faucet, the whole long stem comes out. Remove the brass screw at the end, replace the worn washer with a matching one, and use a new screw if the old one is corroded. Look into the faucet at the seat; if it's rough or pitted, the faucet may keep dripping and replacement is the better fix. Coat the threads lightly with faucet grease, reinstall the stem, and turn the water back on slowly.
   Done

   Something went wrong?

   • The stem won't come out Make sure the water is off, loosen the packing nut first, then turn the stem counterclockwise with a wrench on the flats.

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7. Replace the vacuum breakerIf water sprays from the top cap, the vacuum breaker's rubber parts have worn out. Many unscrew from the faucet body, sometimes after removing a small set screw, and some have a repair kit for the inner parts. Match the brand or model, install the new part hand tight plus a little more, and test.
   Done

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8. Know when to replace the faucetReplace the whole spigot if it's cracked from freezing, the seat is badly worn, or repairs don't stop the leak. A faucet that threads onto a pipe is a manageable DIY job with the water off and thread sealant on the threads. If it's soldered on, or the cracked frost-free tube runs well inside a finished wall, a plumber is usually the better call. When replacing, choose a frost-free model of the right length with a built-in vacuum breaker.
   Done

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Watch it done

How To Fix A Leaking Outdoor FaucetBy Everyday Home Repairs on YouTube. Their method may vary a little from ours.

Watch on YouTube

If it's a different leak

If the faucet is fixed and you want to protect it for winter, there's a separate guide for winterizing an outdoor faucet.

If you find water under a sink rather than at the outdoor faucet's pipe, we have a guide for a leak under the sink.

Outdoor faucet leak questions